Russell Dickerson has had quite the year, and it keeps getting better. The singer garnered his first-ever No. 1 song with two-week chart topper "Yours" early in the year and got the newcomer recognized with his first-ever ACM Awards nomination.

He's up for New Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2018 ACM Awards (voting is still open). The singer-songwriter chatted with Taste of Country about his nod over the phone from England following a performance at C2C Festival. He was taking a break from shopping for an ACM Awards outfit with wife Kailey — whom the song is about. The nomination shocked him, truthfully.

"It wasn't on my radar, because I was not expecting that at all," Dickerson says. "I woke up to 10 text messages in a row of 'congrats.' For what? All my music is out there, we hit No. 1. Then one of them was, 'Congrats for the ACM nomination' and I was like, 'Oh my God!' We had just woken up and I was like, 'Babe, we're nominated for an ACM!' I was so hyped."

He's watched many friends be nominated (and win) for similar awards over the years, and Dickerson admits he's happy to finally step into that realm himself. He's not quite sure how to prepare for the awards show, but he is trying his best "to find something dope to wear."

The ACM nod has also given Dickerson some time to reflect on the success of his platinum single "Yours," which jumpstarted his career. The nomination reinforces the importance of not giving up on something you believe in, he says.

"I wrote that song over four years ago and I knew more than I had ever known or believed in any song, I knew that was the song for me. That song is what kept me going," Dickerson says. "Belief in that song and never giving up. I knew this is a hit song. I could tell more than I have ever believed in a song [and] I kept fighting for it until it was at the top."

"Yours" was embraced by country fans and quickly became a top 2018 wedding song. Dickerson believes this is because the lyrics are so honest. Lines like, "The best me has his arms around you" and "You make me better than I was before" hold special meaning to Dickerson and his wife, but it's not limited to their relationship.

"I think a lot of us, especially guys, are able to resonate with that and to play it for that special someone. The reason it's become a huge wedding song is because of that. It helps people express their love and how they feel," he explains. "If I felt that way, there has to be at least a few other people out there that feel the same way. It turns out there are millions."

"Yours" was the first song Dickerson wrote after he changed his mentality about songwriting. It was a turning point for him as a songwriter when he decided to write songs as himself, for himself. The recognition from the ACM Awards is further validation.

"The recognition that you work towards for a long time — that initial splash into the business, into receiving respect from so many peers around you — I think my team and I did a really good job at making the biggest splash possible," he concedes.

The 2018 ACM Awards air on CBS on April 15. Tune in to see if Dickerson takes home the trophy for New Male Vocalist of the Year!

Remember: The best way to watch the ACM Awards is on TV, with ToC on your phone.